To label fossils of the European
Cave Lion (Panthera leo spelaea) as "RARE" is an understatement,
to say the least. The material is infinitely more rare than the
most famous large prehistoric cat fossils of the Americas - Smilodon
fatalis, which continue to fetch world-record prices in the public
market. The absence of European Ice Age mega-predator fossils
remains in the market underscores the sheer rarity of such material
compared to more prevalent Smilodon material on American markets.
This is not only a rare primary limb bone of the European Cave Lion but
it shows profound evidence of being eaten by another predator, most
likely Crocuta crocuta spelaea, the giant European bone-cracking
Cave Hyena. The size of the conical bites lend to this theory and
numerous scientific studies on fossil evidence indicates common
scenarios where Cave Hyenas dined on the remains of the larger Cave
Lions in Europe's final Ice Age. Such a fossil from the North Sea
is incredibly unusual due to the way the fossils are found in the
fishing boats and also, since the bottom of the ocean floor (once dry
land in the Pleistocene) is impossible to properly study or excavate
today.

This is a partial distal
portion of a right humerus (upper arm bone) featuring an
impeccably well-preserved condition despite extreme evidence of bites
and gnawing on both ends by a large predator, most likely Cave Hyenas. The bone has been
completely cleaned and conserved in our on-site lab and is intact as it was found with
NO REPAIR OR RESTORATION.
The surface and damaged areas are identical in pigment to the undamaged
areas indicating the broken end was ancient in origin and not due to
modern cause. Any and all fossil remains of the European Cave Lion
is EXTRAORDINARILY RARE but major post-cranial remains such as a primary
limb bone can be considered a once-in-a-lifetime find. Recent
scientific studies reveal a fascinating and brutal former world that
existed in the last Ice Age of Europe where Cave Hyenas hunted and fed
on Cave Bears, Cave Lions and even humans such as Neanderthals and
Cro-Magnons. A bone like this that shows evidence of this
fascinating new understanding of predator-predator conflict is a fossil
that is of immense importance and interest. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The
European Cave Lion (Panthera leo spelaea)
first appeared in Europe around 500,000 years ago and lived up to the
near close of the last European Ice Age. They coexisted with
primitive humans such as
Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon man and prehistoric European cave paintings
(SEE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE) have been found depicting these beasts as well
as Paleolithic ivory carvings and clay figures. Artifact evidence
suggests these animals were worshipped and on rare occasion, hunted by
prehistoric man.

The
European Cave Lion was larger than most living cats today and grew to
average weights and lengths meeting or exceeding the largest ever
recorded Siberian Tiger in modern time. The overall head/body
length averaged 11.5 feet with males weighing in at 880 pounds!
This massive predator appeared more like a mix between a lion and a
tiger with very robust features. Prehistoric art gives us a rare
glimpse of what these creatures looked like when alive. The
European Cave Lion had protruding ears, little to no mane, faint
tiger-like stripes and a tufted tail. Typical prey included
mammals such as horse, boar and deer. Paleolithic cave deposits
made by human habitation indicates these animals were also hunted by
prehistoric man. Without a doubt, the ultimate "bragging
rights" went to the Neanderthal or Cro-Magnon who would have been able
to kill one of these deadly monsters with only wood and stone weapons!

RARE- EUROPEAN CAVE LION
PRIMARY LIMB BONE WITH EVIDENCE OF BEING PARTIALLY EATEN BY A LARGE PREDATOR

Diedrich C. 2006b. The Crocuta
crocuta spelaea (Goldfuss 1823) population from the early Upper
Pleistocene hyena open air prey deposit site Biedensteg near Bad
Wildungen (Hesse, NW Germany) and contribution to their phylogenetic
position, coprolites and prey.
Cranium 23: 39–53.